Facebook quadrupling Chicago office, may add 500 new jobs

Facebook could be bringing hundreds of new jobs to Chicago. The social media company is planning to expand its Chicago office by over 100,000 square feet.

The expansion will create space for up to 500 new employees, according to an estimate by the Chicago Tribune.

Facebook currently rents the 28th floor in a 37-story office tower located at 191 North Wacker Drive — a space which the Chicago Tribune says measures a little more than 25,000 feet.

An anonymous source told the paper Facebook was planning to lease three more floors in the building. Representatives from Facebook did not respond to the Chicago Tribune’s request for comment, and the company has not officially confirmed the report.

Reports of Facebook’s possible office expansion come a few months after Amazon revealed it would be doubling the headcount at its Chicago headquarters with 200 new hires.

While Facebook’s exact Chicago headcount is unknown, the social media company did tell Chicago Inno earlier in February that it employed 80 people in Chicago, and that it was looking to hire 30 more.

Facebook isn't the only West Coast company being courted by the Windy City. A consortium of city officials and local business leaders are currently preparing Chicago's pitch for Amazon’s HQ2, which could potentially create 50,000 new jobs.

A source at Facebook familiar with the company's plans confirmed the office expansion to Built In Chicago. The source could not confirm how many jobs would be created as a result, but they did say any jobs created would likely be in the departments Facebook is currently hiring for in Chicago.

Facebook's Chicago careers page currently contains listings for technical roles, as well as marketing, HR, analytics and sales roles.